Oiling a door hinge with cooking oil -- any reason not to?

[Carolina on My Mind]

Hi, all -- the subject line is pretty much the whole question:  I have a squeaky door hinge and no WD40 or anything like that on hand.  Is there any reason not to handle the situation with, say, canola or olive oil?

[kudy]

I'm not sure, but don't cooking oils eventually rot/go bad? Wouldn't want rotten oil on a door hinge?

[Russ]

Don't do this; the cooking oil will (a) go rancid and (b) gum up with time. Don't use WD-40 either, that is not a lubricant.

Go get some light machine oil / 3-in-1 oil / mineral oil from the hardware store, shouldn't be more than a couple bucks, and a squeaky hinge can wait to be fixed until next time you're out.

[usedsoup]

Take one pin out at a time and rub some petroleum jelly (Vasoline) on it. Slip it back in and repeat with the other hinges. If you've never popped on of those pins out just tap a small screw driver from the bottom with a hammer.

Nate

[Gone Fishing]

An old candle works well if you are just looking to use something from around the house.  You will need to take the pin out though and rub it down with the wax.  A crayon would probably work as well.

[Carolina on My Mind]

Thanks for the helpful responses, all!  I actually have mineral oil on hand for my wooden cutting board -- forgot all about it.  And of course I have Vaseline and candles around.  I even have bike chain lube.  I'll save the cooking oil for, you know, cooking . . . .

[Guses]

And of course I have Vaseline and candles around.  I even have bike chain lube.

Alright! You've fot yourself a kinky party right there!!!! :P

Kidding aside, I really like to use lithium grease on hinges that are subjected to cold.

[frugalfighterpilot]

My MIL uses cooking spray on their squeaky door hinges and I've always thought it was a really bad idea. A) when she sprays it, it smells like butter B) it's back to squeaking rather quickly and C) seems very wasteful when they have better options around the house.  My advice...skip the cooking spray.

[zolotiyeruki]

From personal experience, I know that cooking oil will gum up.  You'll be much better off using an oil or grease that's made for lubricating things other than your stomach :)